Customer Reviews

Free To Be...you And Me: Stories, Songs, And Poems

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I purchased Free to Be You and Me for my grandchildren for Christmas. The new edition of the book looks very good. In the write-up it indicated that there was a CD included. I, of course, thought that it was the CD with all the songs that are in the book. It was one of the reasons that I was buying it. That was a wrong assumption.

The CD that comes with the book has only four songs and I was very disappointed when it arrived. I had to find and buy the CD with all of the songs. I wrote to Amazon and told them that I thought that this was deceptive in the description and asked that they let buyers know that the CD that is included is not the original soundtrack. Just be aware that you will need to buy another CD if you want all of the songs that go with the book.

I'm 15 years old and I was born in '83. I grew up reading and listening to "Free to be You and Me." It's the greatest. It teaches children not to get locked into gender goals. Boys can cry. Girls can play with trucks. Your can teach your child to be free, like me.

I think about this collection of stories a lot, especially in reading other stories for children. One of the most beautiful stories I've read is in this book. It's called "Atalanta". In this rare gem of a fairy tale, the "happy ever after" for the princess comes not in marrying the prince, but in following her dreams. Lessons such as staying true to yourself abound in this book, and I truly feel young women such as my sister and I are stronger for having read it at such a young age.

Searching for books for my pre-schooler I suddenly remembered a favorite book (and cassette) from my own childhood. This collection has wonderful stories and messages that will make you smile. I still go around my house humming tunes like "It's alright to cry." If you're a child of the 60s and 70s this is a great treasure to pass on to your little ones.

In a society that spends so much time and energy telling all of us who we should be, what we should do, what to want, and what we need to be successful, it's incredibly liberating to have stories, songs, and poems telling us we are just fine the way we are. What's amazing is that the stories are engaging, charming, funny, and poignant. If all girls and boys were given this book, I think our world would look much different - and a lot healthier and happier. It might still be a dream, but one day I hope we really will live in a world where you and me are free to be you and me; in the meantime - we can at least read stories about it.

I am so grateful to have grown up on Free to Be You and Me.

This book was given to me when I was about 4 years old. It is a beautiful collection of stories, songs, poems and tales that open a child's imagination. It encourages children, both male and female, black or white, to follow your dreams. The focus is that all children have endless possibilities for them and despite your sex or race everyone is equal and beautiful. It's a truly wonderful book. I still have my tattered copy, and I try to give it as a gift as often as possible.

This book embodies the best teachings for kids in today's society. Kids need to feel OK about themselves and have that reinforced constantly so they grow up to be positive contributing members of our society. My brother and I loved it as kids ourselves. It's a terrific work and I hope it continues to last for ages to come.

I still have my scratched up record and I recently bought the CD for my daughter. I believe this album was highly influential in my becoming the free spirited woman that I am. The absense or blending of gender specific roles should not rob a girl of her femininity as one reviewer claims. It allows one to realize that what is feminine is just as valid, important, and therefore equal to what is traditionally considered masculine. This album also teaches valuable lessons about cooperation, friendship etc.

I grew up with this book and album. I still know many of the songs and stories by heart.

The lessons in this book helped give me a confidence and attitude that my mom couldn't give me, being raised in the 50's with strict gender roles.

As for the reviewer who says this book robbed her of being dinstinctly feminine, I suspect there are other issues at play there. This book does not promote androgeny, but individuality and discourages typecasting based on gender. I am still distinctly feminine, I wear dresses and makeup and heels. But I don't think that because I enjoy looking like a woman, I should be treated as a lesser class. This book helped me to understand the difference.

This book (and the music on the tape) encourage girls and boys to be who they are, not what society wants them to be. As a leader of a group of 30 Girl Scouts, I love these stories and have looked forward to sharing them with the girls.

It is a must for any child.